PHS student Lydia Heinen shared her experience with the Veterans Oral History Project in an oral essay for the VFW Voice of Democracy competition. Hear her compelling story.

October, 2016 Veterans Oral History Project and Luncheon

WWII Coast Guard Veteran Dallas Kobriger, WWII Veteran and Army Nurse Marge Behlen and WWII Navy Veteran Al Exner visited USM in April to tell their stories to the students. It is so important these legacies and pieces of history don't get lost as time goes on. We should all remember where we've been to see clearly where we want to be in the future. It was such an honor to have these veterans speak to the kids.

Local Veterans Tell Their Stories to Students at University School of Milwaukee (USM)

Veterans Oral History Project, Ceremony & Luncheon

BTM On The Radio!

The Bell Tower Memorial, Inc. (BTM) held a reunion for the Veterans interviewed for the 2016 & 2017 Veterans Oral History Project in conjunction with the Library of Congress's National Oral History Project. Kirkland Crossings in Pewaukee hosted the event on August 10, 2017. Veterans attending with family members shared their stories and soon learned that others in the room either served on the same ship or were in the same conflict area as they were.

Mike Cady, Chief Academic Officer at Pewaukee Schools and VP of BTM Board, with Elizabeth Idleman, local attorney and BTM Leadership Team, were guests on Karen Ellenbecker's Money Sense radio program aired on WISN 1130 AM radio on Saturday, 5/28 and 6/3.

Bell Tower Memorial

The Bell Tower Memorial, Inc. (BTM) and St. John's Northwestern Military Academy (SJNMA) hosted a veterans ceremony and luncheon at SJNMA on Sunday, May 21, honoring the completion of their second Veterans Oral History Project (VOHP) and its participants.

Sponsored by Rick Smith of R.A. Smith National, students and veterans were honored with awards and everyone was treated to the inspirational words of keynote speaker Colonel (Ret.) Murry Mitten, USAF Veteran, Wing Commander of the 128th Refueling Wing.

The VOHP paired high school students with local Veterans who were interviewed to create a lasting record of the Veterans’ many stories from their time in the military. These interviews will be submitted to the Library of Congress as part of a National Oral History Project and will be made available to local schools and libraries upon request.

Community leaders like County Executive Paul Farrow joined local residents and dignitaries to honor the students and vets that helped complete this project. "It was such an honor to see these brave men and women recognized for their selfless service to our country. Hearing their many stories was truly inspiring," said Paul Farrow.